Lightning Strikes (Cristodero)

After missing 13 games with a high ankle sprain, goaltender Anders Lindback will start tonight against the Hurricanes at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

For the second straight season, a Lightning prospect has been named most valuable player in the American Hockey League. Syracuse's Tyler Johnson was named today. He is tied for the league lead with 33 goals and has 60 points in 60 games heading into the final weekend of the season. Last season's winner was Norfolk's Cory Conacher.

When Ben Bishop takes the ice tonight at the Bell Centre against the Canadiens, it will be his eighth start for the Lightning since being acquired from the Senators. He will have sat out only one of Tampa Bay's nine games, but said the work load is not a problem.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper talks about Tampa Bay's 4-3 shootout loss to the Jets at the MTS Centre on April 16, 2013.

Lightning center Nate Thompson went to the front of the net during Tuesday's morning skate in Winnipeg and faced defenseman Eric Brewer who launched a slap shot right at Thompson.

In what should not come as a surprise, new Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop on Monday signed a two-year, $4.6 million contract extension through 2014-15 -- $2.2 million next season (same as Anders Lindback, $2.4 million in 2014-15. Bishop, 26, was scheduled to be a restricted free agent.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper talks about Tampa Bay's 3-1 loss to the Sabres at the First Niagara Center on April 14, 2013.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper talks about Tampa Bay's 6-5 overtime loss to the Capitals at the Verizon Center on April 13, 2013.

Lightning defenseman Sami Salo will play in his 800th career game tonight at the Verizon Center against the Capitals. Coach Jon Cooper hinted there was at least a minor medical issue, but Salo said he expects to play.

The Lightning on Friday reassigned forwards Brett Connolly and Tyler Johnson to AHL Syracuse. Easy to figure this one out, the Lightning will not make the playoffs and the Crunch is in.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper talks about Tampa Bay's 6-3 loss to the Penguins.

Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman has said he usually is a quick healer, and he seems to be proving it with his comeback from a lower-body injury sustained in the first period of the April 4 victory over the Hurricanes.

Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop talks about beating his former team, the Senators, 3-2, at the Tampa Bay Tomes Forum on April 9, 2013.

Lightning left wing Ryan Malone, who has missed eight games with a left shoulder injury, said he is ready to return to the lineup tonight against the Senators. Coach Jon Cooper said Malone will be a game-time decision.

The Lightning made a couple of moves on Monday, calling up defenseman Mark Barberio from AHL Syracuse and returning defenseman Matt Taormina to the Crunch.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper talks about Tampa Bay's hard-fought 4-2 loss to the Capitals at the Verizon Center.

No one was quite sure which direction Lightning coach Jon Cooper would go with his goaltending Saturday against the Islanders, the first game of a back-to-back that includes Sunday against the Capitals.

With Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury sustained in the first period of Thursday's 5-0 victory over the Hurricanes, Matt Taormina was called up from AHL Syracuse. He will join the team for Saturday's game with the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum.

Goaltender Ben Bishop talks to reporters after his 45-save, 5-0 shutout of the Hurricanes in his Lightning debut.

It didn't take Ben Bishop long to get thrown into the fire. One day after being acquired from the Senators for Cory Conacher and a fourth-round draft pick, Bishop gets the start in net tonight against the Hurricanes at PNC Arena.